Dr Alan Flanagan: The nutrition scientist reveals which health influencers you shouldn't trust and why personalised diets are pointless

Scroll through social media over the past couple of years and it’s impossible to avoid superstar scientists.

But how can you tell the difference between an influencer whose advice should be taken with a pinch of salt and those who should be avoided at all cost?

Through posts and podcasts these health, fitness, nutrition and performance optimisation experts have grown seven-figure audiences with a simple promise: they’ll improve your life – at zero cost and next-to-no effort – if you listen to their expert explanations of the latest and best scientific research.

And in many ways these social media scientists have been a real force for good.

Their charm and charisma, melded with excellent communication skills, enable them to share highly-complex information in simple, understandable and actionable terms.

What’s not so  ...